Google remains the world’s largest search engine, with over 14 billion searches per day and 5 trillion searches per year. Among those are searches for nearby restaurants, offering an opportunity to get online bookings from Google.
So, it’s no surprise restaurants want to get on the bandwagon and make the most of Google searches.
Diners are searching for new places to eat. This means they can come in as walk-ins or make an online reservation. To get bookings from Google, restaurants need to have Reserve with Google.
Read on to learn more about how to use Reserve with Google and add the ‘Reserve Now’ button to your restaurant on Google.
Why add a ‘reserve’ button on Google?
As mentioned, Google boasts a massive number of daily searches, including people looking for restaurants.
Adding Google to your arsenal of opportunities to get online bookings can increase your restaurant’s sales.
Another perk is Google’s solution doesn’t involve commissions. However, to get those zero-commission bookings, restaurants need to access Reserve with Google.
But Google cannot partner with millions of restaurants. So, they streamline this feature through restaurant reservation management systems, like Servme.
Diners can make bookings via Google Search, Maps, and Google Assistant.
This is what a restaurant using Reserve with Google looks like in search, like BB Social Dining, which uses Servme to manage online bookings seamlessly.
It’s worth mentioning, however, that Reserve with Google isn’t available in all countries. It’s currently available in the United States, Canada, UK, United Arab Emirates, and various countries in Europe.
How to add the ‘reserve’ button on Google
To add the ‘Reserve’ button on Google, you’ll need to follow these steps.
Step 1: Choose a partner
Explore restaurant reservation systems and choose one that supports Reserve with Google. Servme is one such platform.
Step 2: Create or update your Google Business Profile
To use Reserve with Google, you’ll need an active and updated Google Business Profile (GBP).
Here’s how to create and optimize your restaurant’s Google Business Profile.
Step 3: Review the integration process
Follow the steps listed by the reservation system to add Google Reserve. You will need to provide some information like your restaurant name, website (if available), your Google email, and so on.
In Servme, you can simply communicate this information with your dedicated account manager and they’ll manage it for you.
Step 4: Enable Reserve with Google
You may find various booking integrations in the reservation system you choose. Enable Reserve with Google from the list.
Step 5: Activate in GBP
Go to the ‘Info’ tab in your Google Business Profile and then click ‘More info.’ Go to ‘Links’ and link your reservation system. This will activate the ‘Reserve’ button for your restaurant on Google.
Step 6: Confirm
It may take a day or 2 for the ‘Reserve’ button to appear in Google. Check your business profile and Google search to confirm that it’s active.
Step 7: Review and manage
If you have a restaurant website, make sure it’s SEO friendly so that searches can see the ‘Reserve Now’ button if they search for you by name or search for ‘[restaurant type] near me’ in Google.
Besides getting more reservations, you can also manage waitlists in Reserve with Google.
You can also enable the feature on specific days, like slow sales days or weekdays and disable it during the weekends or in peak seasons. You can also enable it during certain hours of the day.
Track your revenue sources with reports
You’ve added Reserve with Google, now what?
Use the tracking and analytics feature in your reservation system to track the sources of bookings and see if Google is working out for you.
You shouldn’t do this the moment you add Google because it will take some time before guests find you and make a booking.
If you’re using Servme, you can access various restaurant reports, including the ‘Booking Sources report.’ The latter will show you where guests are coming from.
If you’ve enabled multiple integrations, like Zomato, Reserve with Google, and Facebook and Instagram, the report will show you the daily reservations and their sources.
You can select an integration and review the number of people using that integration. For example, you can choose a time frame from 1 to 31 May and review how many bookings were made through Google.
Add Reserve with Google and start getting commission-free bookings today. Book a free demo.
Frequently asked questions about Reserve with Google
What is Reserve with Google?
Reserve with Google is a feature by Google that allows diners to make online bookings directly from Google Search, Maps, or Assistant. However, restaurants must partner with a supported reservation platform, like Servme, to activate this feature.
Does Reserve with Google charge a commission?
No, Reserve with Google doesn’t charge commissions. All reservations through Reserve with Google are free.
Can I control when the Reserve button shows up?
Yes, absolutely! You can choose the time of day and the days of the week to get online bookings. You can use it to get reservations on slow days or during the slow season like summer, or during specific times of the day like 1 to 4 pm. You have full control of when you can get bookings from Reserve with Google.
Mohammed Rafy
Marketing
